Chapter 971: The Corpse from Five Years Ago

High-tech Zone, Chen Weiguo’s office.

"At the Third Hospital, really?"

Lu Chuan has been handling this case on behalf of the task force these past few days. Of course, Chen Weiguo knew about it, but he didn’t expect that the root of the case would be at the Third Hospital.

"It’s not just our area; the provincial capital has some cases too. However, the other side is quite cautious, and the Third Hospital is the main demand center."

Zhang Meng’s main activity location is in Haizhou City. His pharmacy is also opened here, and most people contacting him are fellow patients, acquaintances through introductions, so most of his business is within Haizhou City.

"Recently, the higher-ups seem to want to conduct a unified investigation and survey of all pharmacies in the province."

Chen Weiguo just received a notification about this, but he’s not sure if it has to do with Zhang’s case.

"What’s going on?"

Lu Chuan has been busy outside these days and wasn’t aware of the situation.

"It’s a clue found by the Haizhou City Public Security Bureau Anti-drug Detachment. It seems recently some pharmacies in many cities were discovered selling illicit drugs secretly."

Chen Weiguo is not particularly clear about this. He heard that the task is to be jointly carried out by the Anti-drug Detachment and the Health Commission.

Some clues were found in a few county towns under Haizhou City, but the specifics are not yet known to Chen Weiguo.

Lu Chuan only briefly inquired since this matter was not within the Criminal Investigation Team’s work scope, and he didn’t ask further. The current work pace is quite fast, and Lu Chuan plans to return for a good rest.

The High-tech Zone Criminal Investigation Team currently doesn’t have any new cases, and everyone is handling some old unsolved cases.

The work pace is somewhat better.

However, Forensic Doctor Shen mentioned that the Criminal Investigation Team is quite busy recently.

Shen Yan has also started working overtime lately.

After staying at the High-tech Zone police station for a while and chatting with a few leaders, Lu Chuan didn’t go back to the Criminal Investigation Team directly; instead, he went to the Criminal Investigation Team.

The end of the year is approaching. In a short while, Lu Chuan’s temporary duty at the Criminal Investigation Team should end.

Generally speaking, if Lu Chuan is not reassigned immediately after this temporary post ends, he would have to return to the Crime Scene Investigation Office to continue his role as the head of the Crime Scene Investigation Office.

Of course, whether his position can be adjusted or if he has an opportunity for promotion is not Lu Chuan’s decision, and he does not have particularly high aspirations in this regard.

When Lu Chuan arrived at the Criminal Investigation Team, he was shocked by the busy scene inside.

"Lu Chuan? You’re back?"

It had been a while since he last saw Zhang Hui, whose face was unshaven and sunken, his eyes dark from exhaustion.

"What’s up with you? Haven’t you slept for days?"

Zhang Hui shook his head with a bitter smile, "Don’t mention it, this case has tortured us badly."

"I can’t talk with you now. I need to head out for a bit. Captain Qin is here; he’s been talking about you a lot these days. Better go see him promptly."

I clearly had a task here, so after chatting briefly with Qin Chuan, I didn’t delay and set off immediately.

Originally, upon returning, Lu Chuan intended to circle around the Crime Scene Investigation Office before leaving. But considering the situation, he decided to check in with Qin Yong first.

Knock, knock, knock.

"Come in."

Qin Yong’s voice remained as deep as ever. Upon seeing it was Lu Chuan after opening the door, Qin Yong jumped up from behind his desk.

"Holy crap! Lu Chuan? Why are you back?"

"No, wait! You’re finally back!"

"Come, come, come, sit, sit, sit!"

Lu Chuan looked at the unkempt Qin Yong, hardly different from the earlier Zhang Hui. It was evident neither had gotten much rest lately.

"Captain Qin, what case has kept you this busy?"

Qin Yong sighed, "Don’t get me started. This case has been occupying us for almost a week. By the way, just a few days ago, I heard you went out to handle a task force case. When did you get back?"

When the Criminal Investigation Team received this case, initially they found some clues, but quickly realized the case was complicated and not straightforward.

Back then, Qin Yong’s immediate thought was to get Lu Chuan back to help solve the case quickly.

However, when the case broke out, Lu Chuan had already gone to handle a case in Haizhou on behalf of the Provincial Task Force.

Over there was a Provincial Task Force case, while here it was a Criminal Investigation Team case, so there was no way Qin Chuan could directly call Lu Chuan back. It seemed settled, yet unexpectedly, Lu Chuan returned today.

Lu Chuan sat side by side with Qin Yong on the guest sofa and took the hot water offered by Qin Yong, "I just got back yesterday. Your case over there was quite complex and took a bit longer. I just completed the handover and came back."

Without waiting for Qin Yong to speak further, Lu Chuan continued asking, "Sister Qin, what’s the case here now? Everyone seems pretty busy. I just saw Zhang Hui at the door, looking as if he hasn’t rested for ages. Shen Yan didn’t elaborate much, but she seems to be working overtime lately."

Although Lu Chuan is currently serving as the head of the Criminal Investigation Team in the High-tech Zone, his position at the Crime Scene Investigation Office has not yet been relieved.

In terms of assignment, Lu Chuan technically still belongs to the Criminal Investigation Team.

Now that there’s nothing much on his end, with a case out on the Criminal Investigation Team side, Lu Chuan is certainly eager.

"It’s a homicide case. Back when the murder happened, we already wanted you back for assistance, but I heard from Chen Weiguo that you were helping the Provincial Task Force. So I didn’t call you."

Qin Yong then briefly explained the case situation.

After listening, Lu Chuan gained a general understanding of the case.

It’s a case from five years ago.

The case occurred within the Experimental Primary School in the city.

Five years ago, a female teacher from the Experimental Primary School went missing. At the time, her family reported the case, but they never found out where the missing teacher went.

As time passed, the person was never found, and the case went cold.

Then, just last week, when the old community of the Experimental Primary School was being renovated, a problem was discovered.

"In recent years, the Experimental Primary School has been expanding and constructed a new campus. Due to outdated classrooms, the old campus began renovation."

Qin Yong picked up relevant case materials from the desk and placed them in front of Lu Chuan.

"During this process, when workers were moving sculptures from the sculpture room, they accidentally knocked over one of the sculptures. The incident revealed a corpse inside the sculpture."

"Our Criminal Investigation Team took over the case immediately. Forensic Doctor Wang Changjiang and Shen Yan conducted a DNA identification of the corpse. They verified the identity, and after cross-checking with the missing persons system, confirmed that the corpse was indeed the female teacher who disappeared from the Experimental Primary School five years ago."